Lycanthrope's Moon

Chapter 1

I groaned when I heard loud knocks on my door and voices of children shouting loudly and endlessly outside my apartment. I smiled as I listened to the children squeal in excitement.

I stood up and put my shirt on before I went to open the door. I immediately saw my twin nieces Cailey and Cassie and my twin nephews Jonathan and Joseph. They immediately ran inside the house and started to play on the couch. I looked at my sister, and she just smiled at me apologetically.

"Aren't you going inside?" I asked my sister Mandy.

Mandy went inside and tried to stop the kids from playing, though she failed. I looked at her. She looked thinner than the last time I saw her. My sister was a single parent after his husband left her with four children and not a single penny in the bank. It must've been really hard for her.

"Have you eaten breakfast?" I asked her.

"Yeah, but do you have anything that the kids could eat? I'm sure our breakfast was not enough to fill them," she said.

I immediately went to my kitchen and pulled out the last two cereal boxes. Guess I'll be having just coffee for breakfast today. I gave the kids the food and handed a cup of coffee to my sister.

"Is there any problem, Mandy?" I asked her since it seemed like she was too embarrassed to speak.

"Well… I'm just wondering if I could borrow some money?" she asked.

I smiled sweetly at my sister before taking some money inside my wallet. She hesitantly took it and hugged me tightly. I know things are very hard for her. She has to raise four children independently while caring for our sick mother. She's just a nursery teacher, so there's no way she can sustain all her children's needs and our mother's medication.

"I'm so sorry. I know you're already having a hard time dealing with our father's debts, and now I have to burden you with us," Mandy apologetically said. She was older than me, so she thought I was somehow her responsibility too, which was not necessary, though I found her cute.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," I told her a lie.

I tried hard to save our farm and small business, but our father's debt was way bigger than all I could manage monthly. The only thing I managed to save was the house where my sister and my mom lived in. I haven't even paid the debt interest yet, and now I am jobless. The company I worked at suffered from a financial crisis, so they had to reduce the number of employees. Unfortunately, I was one of those. I haven't paid my rent in two months and can barely eat a meal daily.

Everything was so f****d up, but I didn't want them to know. They're already struggling as it was. I don't want to burden them too.

"Are you sure? I'll help you back in any way I can when I have some spare money. I promise," she said.

"Yeah, yeah. I think you should be going. I have to prepare myself. I'm almost late for work," I said, another lie.

"Sorry to bother you. We're leaving then," Mandy said and turned to her kids. "We're leaving. Say goodbye to your uncle Flynn" the moment she said that, the kids rushed to me and gave me kisses. This was already enough to make my day.

After that, they left. I sat quietly and opened my email to see if one of the applications I sent was approved. I need to find a new job, or I'll be doomed.

I opened the only message in my inbox from the Ivanov corporation, saying I'll have an interview today at ten. I cursed at myself as to why I didn't check my emails yesterday. I looked at my watch and checked the time. It was already nine fifteen.

"I could make it," I said with a sigh of relief.

I immediately prepared myself. After a few minutes, I was already at the train station. 'I hope I get accepted,' I prayed to myself. I applied as a technician for their company. Though I was sure that the salary would not be enough to pay the debts and sustain myself, at least it'll help me survive on a day-to-day basis. It would be much better than being jobless.

When I reached the building, I had already found the room where I was supposed to be. On my way inside, I heard two employees talking.

"The CEO fired his secretary again?"

"Yup, and they're looking for a new secretary."

"I heard they're paying his secretary really well."

"Well, even if they would pay half a million, no one is desperate enough to tolerate his attitude."

"And what's with him only accepting male secretaries? Is he gay?"

"I don't know. They said his girlfriend is so possessive that they prefer men to avoid issues."

"Well, rich people are different kinds of breeds from us. That's why we would never understand them."

What's with them bad-mouthing their CEO like nobody's business? They might get fired because of that. A woman assisted me inside a room filled with other applicants. I assumed she was an HR staff. She made us sit in line and asked us to wait. A few moments later, a woman in a shirt and ripped jeans appeared.

"Hi, I'm sorry if this is an inappropriate look. I just got the news on short notice. I beg your pardon," the woman said apologetically. "Can I ask? If ever someone is qualified, are you willing to take the position to be the CEO's secretary?" she added, getting straight to the point.

No one among the applicants said anything. We just all exchanged glances, confused.

I remembered the employee's conversation earlier. They may be really desperate to find a new secretary.

The woman in the shirt took out her phone from her pocket and started dialing.

"Get down here and find yourself a new secretary," she said, almost scolding the other person on the line. I assumed it was the CEO since she mentioned finding a new secretary.

"Of course, you need a secretary! I'll be giving you five minutes. I want you to be here in five minutes," she said. Then she turned to us and smiled. "The CEO will be here in five minutes."

Everyone tensed up when she said that. Who wouldn't be? We're here to apply for the lower position. Nobody expected to be the CEO's secretary, and no one was prepared to meet him.

After five minutes, a man in a black suit entered the room. I believed he was the CEO because his presence shouted for power and authority, which was very intimidating. Everyone was quiet and was like holding their breath. A man in a gray suit entered the room after him.

"What is.." he stopped, then turned to look at me or in my direction. My heart skipped a beat when our eyes met. I looked away first as I felt his eyes suffocating me. Was he really that intimidating for my body to react this way?

"Don't accept anyone from them. Nobody's suited for the job," he said and went out of the room, which left us dumbfounded. What the hell was that?

"Don't worry about him. He's just kidding. " Wait for a few minutes more, and someone will come and give you an interview," the woman said, then walked towards me. "Come with me," she whispered.

I followed her to an elevator, still puzzled about what was happening.

"Uhm, ma'am, where are we going? Am I not going to take the interview?" I asked her

"No, no need for that. In fact, we're on our way to your personal office," she cheerfully said, which confused me even more.

"Am I accepted?" I asked her again

"Yes," she said

"As a technician?" I asked. Does the technician have a personal office?

"What? No! You're the CEO's secretary," she said, which surprised me even more.

"The CEO's secretary?"